Safety vest

ABSTRACT

A garment is provided for deterring a physical assault on a wearer and creating evidence of the assault, comprising a vest having visual indicia affixed thereto, such as the word “Evidence”, displaying that the vest may be used as evidence in a criminal investigation. A dye release system containing a permanent and luminescent dye is affixed to the vest, which can be activated by the wearer prior to or during an assault. The dye is caused to be forcefully ejected from the dye release system, thereby contaminating the vest, the wearer, the assailant and the place where the assault took place. Preferably, the vest includes an electronic locating device, such as a sonic transmitter or GPS transmitter. Also, the vest preferably includes an audible alarm, a canine-detectable scent, and fingerprint susceptible surfaces thereon.

This is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/544,192, filed on Apr. 6, 2000,which will issue on Feb. 25, 2003 and will be U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,662,to which this application claims priority and which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to garments worn by joggers,cyclists, backpackers and other persons for the purpose of deterringassaults and kidnappings by an attacker, and more particularly to vestswhich contain a visual display of its purpose and a permanent dye whichcan be released by the wearer.

II. Description of Prior Art

Outdoor exercise for women has become an increasingly risky venture inrecent years. Joggers, cyclists, and backpackers have frequently beenthe target of criminal activity in the form of assaults, rape,kidnapping and murder. Common to most of these attacks is the absence ofhard evidence as to the identity of the assailant, because the outdoorenvironment renders the recovery of hair samples and other forensicmatter exceptionally difficult. Moreover, the attacks against womenduring outdoor exercise generally occurs while the woman is wearing verylight clothing, making it difficult for the woman to carry protectiveequipment in the form of a gun, mace or other self-defense item.Consequently, the best ways for women to avoid becoming the victim of aviolent attack are to: (a) deter the attacker from selecting the womanas a target at all, and (b) make the actual attack very difficult orundesirable for the attacker. As will be shown herein, the presentinvention satisfies both of these requirements in a manner thatengenders confidence and security for the woman, and that does notinterfere with the exercise activity.

Another troubling problem is that if an attack occurs, law enforcementofficials may have a hard time locating the victim if she is eitherdisabled or deceased. If the victim is still alive, time is of theessence in finding the person before further harm occurs. If the victimhas been killed, recovery of the body as quickly as possible isessential to gathering time-sensitive evidence and pursuing thecriminal. The ensuing description of the present invention will disclosehow these situations can be resolved through a single well-designedgarment.

Prior art safety garments for outdoor exercisers are numerous and widelyvariant as to their specific features. While the garment design can takemany forms, such as a pair of shorts, a jacket, or even a belt or wristband, the most common type of garment is a lightweight vest. Forexample, most vests used for this purpose are easily zipped or otherwiseopened and closed in the front of the wearer or along the sides. Theyare usually light and “breathable” in that the fabric contains holes forpassage of air to keep the wearer from becoming overheated.Additionally, these vests typically employ bright colors, reflectivesurfaces or illumination devices so that they can be readily seen bypersons in vehicles or rescue workers.

What is noticeably lacking in these garments are features whichspecifically address the problems with the aforementioned attacks. Whilereflective surfaces and bright colors may serve as a deterrent to somesmall degree, these garments can be removed by the assailant during orafter an assault, making the garments worthless from an evidentiarystandpoint. Furthermore, there is nothing to link the victim to aspecific attacker if an assault does occur. What is needed, therefore,is a garment for joggers and other persons which can: (I) provide avisual cue to would-be attackers that any attack will encounterdifficulties, (2) allow the wearer to activate an audible alarm and/orrelease a permanent dye onto the attacker that will connect the attackerto the crime, (3) assist in locating the victim through the use of acanine detectable scent, global positioning system (GPS) transmitterand/or sonar transmitter, and (4) preserve evidence needed for aconviction of the assailant through the use of fingerprints and dyestains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a safety garmentwhich serves as a visual deterrent to a physical assault.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a safety garment whichenables the wearer to spray a permanent dye from the garment to preventor shorten a physical assault.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a safety garmentwhich includes a locating transmitter for detection by a sonic or GPSreceiver.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a safety garmentwhich includes an alphanumeric indicia for use with a registrationsystem for tracking the wearer at all times.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will nodoubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after having read thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments which are containedin and illustrated by the various drawing figures.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, a garment for deterring a physicalassault on a wearer and creating evidence of said assault, comprising avest having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein said front andrear portions include a highly reflective surface; visual indiciaaffixed to said vest displaying that said vest may be used as evidencein a criminal investigation; a dye container affixed to said vest,wherein said dye container holds a releasable dye; and dye releasingmeans operatively connected to said dye container for causing a forcefulejection of said dye from said dye container upon actuation of said dyereleasing means.

With respect to the vest itself, the front and rear portions of saidvest are constructed primarily from a porous net material. The vest mayinclude a removable hood, as well as a water-resistant and sealablepouch for carrying identification and other personal items. For use oncold days, the vest also optionally includes a removable, thermallyinsulated inner liner. Importantly, the vest preferably includes avisual indicia having the word “EVIDENCE” or similar symbol prominentlydisplayed on said vest, either on the front portion, the rear portion orboth.

In more preferred embodiments, the garment further comprises an audiblealarm affixed to said vest, and wherein said alarm is selectivelyactuated by said wearer. The garment may further include electroniclocating means affixed to said vest for allowing said vest to belocated. Also, the garment may further include a canine-detectable scentaffixed to said vest, as well at least one fingerprint-susceptiblesurface thereon.

The most preferred dye for use with the invention is a permanent,luminescent, fast-drying and water-resistant dye. In one embodiment, thedye container includes a first dye chamber affixed to said front portionof said vest and a second dye chamber affixed to said rear portion ofsaid vest, and wherein said first and second dye chambers each includean exit port which directs released dye away from said wearer. In analternate embodiment, the dye container includes a dye tube at leastpartially encircling the waist of said wearer, wherein said dye tubeincludes a plurality of exit ports which direct released dye away fromsaid wearer. Further, the dye releasing means preferably includes a pullcord extending from said dye container. Alternative dye releasing meansmay include a remote activator via infrared or radio transmitter, apressure sensitive switch or pad, a sound-activated switch, or the useof a pressurized container, such as a CO₂ cartridge.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the audible alarm isactivated simultaneously by actuation of said dye releasing means. Inone embodiment, the electronic locating means includes a soundtransmitter activated by the actuation of said dye releasing means. Inan alternate embodiment, the electronic locating means includes a globalpositioning system (GPS) transmitter. Also, for use of the vest within aregistration system, the vest includes alphanumeric indiciacorresponding to a specific wearer of said vest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the invention,depicting a vest having several features for the protection of thewearer, including a dye release system.

FIG. 1B is a rear view of the invention of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the invention,depicting an alternative means for releasing the dye.

FIG. 2B is a rear view of the invention of FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a garment 1 is provided for deterring aphysical assault on a wearer 5 and creating evidence of such an assault.Generally, the garment 1 comprises a vest 2 having a front portion 3 anda rear portion 4. The front and rear portions 3,4 each include a highlyreflective and/or luminescent surface 6,7, although such surfaces 6,7may only partially cover the front and rear portions 3,4. The vest 2 isconstructed primarily from a brightly colored, porous net material forthe purpose of providing a cool, breathable fabric when used over lightclothing. Although not strictly required by the invention, the vest 2may also include a removable hood 8, as well as a water-resistant andsealable pouch 9 for carrying identification and other personal items.For use on cold days, the vest 2 also optionally includes a removable,thermally insulated inner liner 10.

One of the most distinguishing features of the present invention is thepresence of a visual indicia 11 displaying that the vest 2 may be usedas evidence in a criminal investigation. This feature, perhaps more thanany other, catches the attention of all those who see the wearer 5 withthe vest 2, including would-be assailants. In a preferred embodimentshown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the visual indicia 11 comprises the word“EVIDENCE” prominently displayed on the vest 2, either on the frontportion 3, the rear portion 4 or both. Ideally, the visual indicia 11should be made from a material and color that is highly contrasted withthe remaining material of the vest 2. One manner of accomplishing thisobjective is to provide the highly reflective surfaces 6,7 as thebackground material for the visual indicia 11, as shown in all of thefigures. It would also be advantageous to use a material for thesepurposes that is highly susceptible to accepting human fingerprints sothat recovery of this type of evidence is facilitated. The purpose ofthe visual indicia 11 is two-fold: (1) to remind any attacker of thecriminal implications of any proposed assault, and (2) to provide aneasily visible article of clothing for rescue persons in the event thatthe wearer 5 is either killed or incapacitated.

In the event that the mere visual impact of the vest 2 does not serve asa deterrent to an assailant, the vest 2 includes at least one dyecontaining means 12 affixed to the vest 2 which holds a releasable dyethat can be sprayed away from the wearer 5 and onto an attacker and thesurrounding environment. The dye containing means 12 is operativelyconnected to a dye releasing means 13 for causing a forceful ejection ofthe dye from the dye container 12 upon actuation of the dye releasingmeans 13.

The most preferred dye for use with the invention is a permanent,luminescent, fast-drying and water-resistant dye. Such a dye would bedifficult to remove from the clothes and skin so that any suspectbearing evidence of the dye would be detained immediately. Moreover,resistance of the dye to dilution and smearing would preserve a crimescene for a longer period of time for law enforcement officials.

In one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the dye containing means 12includes a first dye chamber 14 affixed to the front portion 3 of thevest 2 and a second dye chamber 15 affixed to the rear portion 4 of thevest 2. Both first and second dye chambers 14,15 are connected to oneanother by a tube extending over the shoulder of the wearer 5 such thatboth first and second dye chambers 14,15 are activated simultaneously.Each of the first and second dye chambers 14,15 includes an exit port16,17 which directs released dye away from the wearer 5. In an alternateembodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the dye container 12 includes a dyetube 18 at least partially encircling the waist of the wearer 5, whereinthe dye tube 18 includes a plurality of exit ports 19 which directreleased dye away from the wearer 5 in all directions.

In both embodiments described above, the dye releasing means 13preferably includes a pull cord 20 extending from the dye containingmeans 12. Although a variety of systems may be devised for forcefulejection of the dye, it is preferred that the dye containing means 12employ a negative valve system where a predetermined amount of tensionapplied to the pull cord 20 causes air to be drawn into the dyecontainer 12 to expel the dye itself. Alternatively, the pull cord 20could be connected to a spring-loaded plunger system that effectivelypumps the dye from the dye container 12 through the exit ports ondemand. Alternative forms of the dye releasing means 13 may comprise aremote activator via infrared or radio transmitter, a pressure sensitiveswitch or pad, a sound-activated switch, or the use of a pressurizedcontainer, such as a CO₂ cartridge.

In more preferred embodiments, the vest 2 further comprises abattery-powered, audible alarm 21 affixed to the vest which can beselectively actuated by the wearer 5. In one version, the audible alarm21 is activated simultaneously by actuation of the dye releasing means13. However, if release of the dye would be premature, the alarm 21 maybe separately activated by its own switch (not shown) protruding fromthe vest 2. Ideally, the alarm 21 should create a loud, piercing soundwhich will attract the attention of any nearby persons at the time of anattack.

In a further preferred embodiment, the vest 2 may further includeelectronic locating means 22 affixed to the vest 2 for allowing the vest2 and/or the wearer 5 to be located. The electronic locating means 22may include a sound transmitter activated by the actuation of the dyereleasing means. In an alternate embodiment, the electronic locatingmeans 22 may include a global positioning system (GPS) transmitter whichis always on at the selection of the wearer 5.

Another optional feature of the present invention is a canine-detectablescent applied to the fabric of the vest 2 or a portion thereof. Thistype of scent would not be objectionable to the wearer 5 or otherhumans, but would be readily identifiable by law enforcement canines inthe event of a search and rescue operation.

Finally, the present invention envisions that use of the vest 2 will bein the context of a registration system which identifies specificpersons with specific vests. Therefore, it is preferred that the vest 2include an alphanumeric indicia 23 corresponding to a specific wearer ofthe vest 2. In this manner, recovery of the vest 2 itself will allowofficials to know the specific individual who is missing. This indicia23 would be located in a prominent area on the vest 2, such as behindthe neck on the rear portion 4 of the vest 2. While alphanumeric indicia23 is perhaps the easiest to use, other types of identifying indicia mayalso be employed, such as bar codes or magnetic strips for the identicalpurpose.

All components of the vest 2, such as the dye containing means 12, thealarm 21, and the to electronic locating means 22, may optionally besewn onto the exterior of the vest fabric. However, for protection ofthe components, they may be alternatively sewn into an inner fabriclining on the yoke of the vest 2.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments, it is anticipated that alterations and modificationsthereof will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art. It istherefore intended that the following claims be interpreted as coveringall such alterations and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

1. An article worn on the human body for deterring a physical assaultand creating evidence of said assault comprising: (a) a garment adaptedto be worn on a human body, said garment having a front portion and arear portion, wherein at least one of said front and said rear portionsinclude a highly reflective surface; (b) a visual indicia attached tosaid garment indicating that said garment may be used as evidence in acriminal investigation; (c) a dye container affixed to said garment,where said dye container holds a releasable dye; and (d) a dye releasingmeans operatively connected to said dye container for causing a forcefulejection of said dye from said dye container upon actuation of said dyereleasing means.
 2. The article of claim 1 wherein said article furtherincludes an audible alarm affixed thereto, whereby said audible alarmmay be selectively actuated by a wearer.
 3. The article of claim 1wherein said article further includes an electronic locating meansaffixed to said garment for allowing said garment to be located.
 4. Thearticle of claim 1 wherein said garment further includes at least onefinger-print susceptible surface area.
 5. The article of claim 1 whereinsaid dye is a permanent dye.
 6. The article of claim 1 wherein said dyeis a luminescent dye.
 7. The article of claim 1 wherein said dyecontainer includes a first dye chamber affixed to said front portion ofsaid garment and a second dye chamber affixed to said rear portion ofsaid garment, and wherein said first and said second dye chambers eachinclude an exit port which directs released dye away from a wearer. 8.The article of claim 1 wherein said dye releasing means included a pullcord operatively connected to said dye container.
 9. The article ofclaim 2, wherein said audible alarm is activated by actuation of saiddye release means.
 10. The article of claim 3 wherein said electroniclocating means includes a sound transmitter activated by actuation ofsaid dye release means.
 11. The article of claim 3 wherein saidelectronic locating means includes a global positioning systemtransmitter.
 12. The article of claim 1 wherein said garment includesindicia corresponding to a specific wearer of said garment.
 13. Thearticle of claim 1 wherein said dye is a fast drying and water resistantdye.
 14. The article of claim 1 wherein said garment further includes aremovable thermally insulated liner.
 15. An article worn on the humanbody for deterring a physical assault and creating evidence of saidassault comprising: (a) a garment adapted to be worn on a human body,said garment having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein at leastone of said front and said rear portions include a highly reflectivesurface; (b) a dye container affixed to said garment, wherein said dyecontainer holds a releasable dye; and (c) a dye releasing meansoperatively connected to said dye container for causing a forcefulejection of said dye from said dye container upon actuation of said dyereleasing means.
 16. The article of claim 15 where said garment is avest.
 17. The article of claim 16 where said dye is a permanent dye.